§Author· 3 books
John Wiswell
Also known as John Corcoran Wiswell
Speculative fiction centered on monstrous perspectives and disability themes gained major award recognition through the acclaimed novel Someone You Can Build a Nest In. Written by American author John Wiswell, this body of work blends unconventional monster protagonists with warm, compassionate storytelling and dark humor.
Career & Background
Born on September 4, 1981, and raised in the Mount Kisco area of New York State, John Wiswell graduated from Bennington College in 2005 and attended the Viable Paradise 17 writing workshop in 2013. His short fiction career launched with stories appearing in prominent venues such as Uncanny Magazine, Tor.com, LeVar Burton Reads, Nature Magazine, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Weird Tales, Nightmare Magazine, Cast of Wonders, Podcastle, Escape Pod, Pseudopod, Diabolical Plots, Fireside Magazine, and the No Sleep podcast. His 2020 short story 'Open House on Haunted Hill' won the Nebula Award for Best Short Story, and his novelette 'That Story Isn't The Story' earned a Locus Award. Wiswell's debut novel, Someone You Can Build a Nest In, was released in April 2024 by DAW Books in the United States and Arcadia Books in the United Kingdom, going on to win both the Nebula Award for Best Novel and the Locus Award for Best First Novel. A Hugo Award, World Fantasy Award, and British Fantasy Award finalist, his fiction has been translated into ten languages.
Writing Style & Themes
Wiswell, an ace/aro writer who lives in the middle of the woods where New York keeps all its trees, draws directly from his personal experiences as a disabled person with a neuromuscular syndrome. His writing frequently explores disability, chronic pain, bodily vulnerability, and non-normative relationships with a sharp sense of wit. Noticing that healthy people's capacity to complain is often very funny, Wiswell infuses his fiction with warmth, dark comedy, and profound empathy for monstrous figures. His narrative approach subverts conventional horror and fantasy tropes, transforming terrifying entities into complex, relatable protagonists who seek safety, autonomy, and genuine human connection.
Major Works
- Someone You Can Build a Nest In — Released in April 2024 by DAW Books in the U.S. and Arcadia Books in the U.K., this debut fantasy novel won the Nebula Award for Best Novel and the Locus Award for Best First Novel.
- Wearing the Lion — A fantasy novel expansion following the success of his award-winning debut.
- The Dragon Has Some Complaints — A scheduled speculative fiction novel featured in the author's published work catalog.
§All Books
Someone You Can Build a Nest In
John Wiswell, 2024
100 ratings
Wearing the Lion
John Wiswell, 2025
18 ratings
The Dragon Has Some Complaints
John Wiswell, 2026
1 ratings